Announced just under €25,000, the new Renault 5 E-Tech (2025) could ultimately be even more accessible thanks to new batteries…
The new Renault 5 definitely hasn’t stopped talking about it lately!
A highly anticipated electric city car
It was 2021. The new boss of Renault, Luca de Meo, presented a neo-retro electric city car prototype, very strongly inspired by the 1972 Renault 5. Named “Echo” at the time, it subtly teased the one who would become the spiritual descendant of Zoe.
However, in order to get Renault back on track, the R5 project took a while before leading to a production model, with lots of concepts, prototypes and teaser images. Finally, it was finally presented in its final form last February, at the Geneva Motor Show.
Stylistically, the resemblance to the original R5 is obvious: from the silhouette to the headlights, from the design of the dashboard to the palette of available colorsit is a faithful re-interpretation!
Under the hood, however, there is no thermal engine, but an electric unit developing 150 horsepowerwhich will also be available in 120 and 95 horsepower variants.
In terms of battery, it will be equipped with the choice of a small 40 kWh module allowing around 300 kilometers of autonomy, or a larger 52 kWh battery which will maximize autonomy of 400 kilometers…
Even more accessible than expected?
But the crux of the matter for this new Renault 5 is of course its price! Since Citroën has launched its new electric ë-C3 starting at €23,300 only, his competitor in the diamond is under pressure. Because all manufacturers, like Volkswagen, Tesla, Hyundai or Skoda, want to succeed in offering a versatile electric city car (segment B) under €25,000.
The R5 will not escape this, and Renault has already warned that the access version of the model will start at just under €25,000. But it could end up being even cheaper than that! According to information relayed by our colleagues at Les Échos, Renault is preparing to change battery suppliers, turning to the Koreans LG Chem.
Result : the brand would abandon NMC (Nickel-manganese-cobalt) batteries in favor of LFP (Lithium-iron-phosphate) batteries, cheaper to produce because they require fewer rare metals than the first.
If this scoop were to be confirmed, the Renault 5 (and the next new electric products from Renault) would therefore be much less expensive than expected, and could come to tickle its rival at Citroën even more seriously. Especially since the Volkswagen ID.2, Skoda Epiq, Cupra Raval and Hyundai Casper will arrive soon, and also promise tight prices…
In doing so, the next Twingo and the future R4 E-Tech (2026) could also be offered at prices even more competitive than the €20,000 and €30,000 mentioned by Renault…
